Sharks won’t have long to get ready for Game 5, it starts at noon Sunday

Players don't expect early start to cause problems

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ST. LOUIS, MO – May 17: The San Jose Sharks, including San Jose Sharks’ Joe Thornton (19) head to the locker room following their 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo., on Friday, May 17, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

ST. LOUIS — Unlike Game 4, the Sharks say starting on time won’t be an issue Sunday — even if the opening drop of the puck will be coming a few hours earlier than normal.

Game 5 of the Western Conference finals between the Sharks and the St. Louis Blues will start at noon on NBC, a quick turnaround for both teams after Game 4 ended at 9:39 p.m. Central Time on Friday.

“We’ve started at every possible time so far this playoffs. It’s something we’re used to,” Barclay Goodrow said Saturday. “We’re used to late games, early games, something you adapt to.”

The Sharks, of course, do not need a reminder of the importance of a fast start. Ivan Barbashev’s goal Friday 35 seconds into the first period marked the third time San Jose has allowed the opposition to score in the first minute of play in these playoffs.

“We let in a goal, our line was on the ice for the first goal, 35 seconds in,” Gus Nyquist said. “We have to do a better job. But coming home, being at the Shark Tank, Game 5 of the conference final, we’ll be ready to go.”

The Sharks only had two early afternoon games at home this season, one against Los Angeles on Dec. 22, a 3-2 overtime win for the Kings, and a second against the Blues on March 9. The Sharks won that game, 3-2 in overtime.

In an effort to keep players on somewhat regular sleep cycles, the Sharks, between venue changes, have stayed overnight on the road before flying back to the Bay Area. It was a tactic they often employed during the regular season on road trips that ended on the Eastern or the Central Time Zone.

“We’ll be all right,” Marc-Edouard Vlasic said. “Both teams have to travel today, have to play at 12 tomorrow. For me, I’ll sleep the whole way on the way back, so I’ll be fine.”

A spark for Hertl?

Tomas Hertl’s power play goal at the 6:48 mark of the third period Friday was his 10th of the playoffs, but his first since Game 7 of the Sharks’ second round series against the Colorado Avalanche. He and linemates Evander Kane and Joe Pavelski have largely been held in check this series. Pavelski also has one goal, but it came on a 5-on-3 power play in Game 1.

“I’m not worried about him. He’s dangerous every night,” DeBoer said of Hertl. “Logan Couture’s dangerous every night. We’ve got to get some other guys a little more dangerous in that support, offensive role.”

To that end, DeBoer shuffled his lines for the third period Friday. Pavelski was on a line with Joe Thornton and Kevin Labanc, and Hertl skated with Kane and Joonas Donskoi. Marcus Sorensen, who dressed Friday after he was a healthy scratch for Game 3, was with Goodrow and Melker Karlsson. Sorensen had one shot on goal in 9:08 of ice time.

“I thought he was OK. Still think he can play better,” DeBoer said of Sorensen. “It’s a big, heavy hard series, and he has to use his speed and quickness a little more.”